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| Image credit: Misha Brook/Drive Tesla Canada |
If you frequent malls, you’d observe how shoppers gawk at, linger and perhaps purchase items they didn’t even intend to buy, just because the product demonstration proved they worked.
That’s how this shopper decided, “Gotta have that steam iron,” and it proved pretty useful.
I know of one who finally got a Tesla soon after he had a chance to touch and discover its features through a shop floor demo, with the sales rep’s big push of course.
That’s the power of demonstration and great marketing strategy.
The ultimate strategist? Our awesome Creator! God in His wisdom knew lost humanity would not buy into His plan without a “floor” demo culled from His strategic mind.
That’s why Israel!
Given up for good, the nation of Israel for a time ceased to exist. Kaput. Yet in 1948, Israel—then in a barren, seemingly God-forsaken place—miraculously regrouped. And the world marvelled. Its agriculture, technology and engineering capabilities, plus military prowess, exploded. Israel, just like Lazarus, rose from the dead.
I’ve read the bible a number of times but always got befuddled by the story of Israel.
Chosen nation? By God? Yet consider these: 430 years as slaves in Egypt. 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Waged wars with seven nations. Taken into captivity by stronger kingdoms. And they’re still under attack by enemies around them. Not to forget: Hitler and his minions hated them so. Six to seven million Jews were exterminated like venom in the holocaust.
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| Image credit:Word Press.com |
Israel, chosen?
Could you believe with me that God—being mighty and powerful, all-knowing and in full control—used and is continuing to prove through Israel that His plan had always been to save mankind from perishing. This in spite of our first parents’ fall from His grace and Israel itself seesawing between obedience and disobedience.
Starting with Abraham, fast-forward to Moses then Joshua, God demonstrated His exceeding power through the ten plagues which decimated Egypt and freed the Jews through a dried-up Red Sea—these plus numerous other “shock and awe” miracles while they roamed the wilderness.
Read the Bible’s old testament along with Israel’s history to prove these are not lore but real.
Even from the beginning of time and before Israel’s emergence, God has proven Himself powerful. Truly, no other god or idol or name under heaven compares. The universe and the earth plus its majestic and mind-boggling features —down to the tiniest creatures like fungi, ants and hummingbirds—speak of His glory.
But something else confused me about God’s ways with Israel. Why give them myriads of laws so suffocating and oppressive these seemed impossible to obey. Well, maybe a few. But all?!
Then I caught the big picture when Pastor March Villareal (San Diego Christian Fellowship) recently preached on these laws. To condense Pastor March’s words: Their main purpose is to expose the motivations of men’s hearts, thus warn them of the consequences of evil intent which spur them to commit, even love, sin.
God’s ultimate design, in the fullness of His time, was to send His Son Jesus to save us from habitual sin thoughts or actions; and thus bring mankind back to His fold.
Jesus came to this world THROUGH ISRAEL.
Because God knew man could not fully comply with the Mosaic laws and thereby save himself, Jesus took human form. He then willingly subjected Himself to the most humiliating death, to set us free from sin, etch the law into our hearts, and thus unequivocally make us crossover from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of light.
Jesus fulfilled the law! And those who accept Him as Savior and Lord receive grace in return—His amazing, all encompassing favor and love, though undeserved—so sinful man can take the U-turn back to God.
The message is clear: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16.
You and I are the intended consumers of God’s demo project. Israel is that giant whale planted in that giant aquarium in that giant mall called earth. That we may opt, with the free will He gifted us with—to purchase (with just a breath of humility in your heart) His special offer of salvation.
Salvation through Jesus is the answer to all of our needs—from ironing our crumpled spirits, cleansing our stained hearts, giving us flight even in our struggles, and beaming us up to Himself when the trumpet blows for our departure.
God’s amazing grace—from His mighty works in creation and with Israel till today—comes full circle in Jesus.
But the special offer lasts only till…
Would you sincerely pray: “God, I repent of my sins. Reveal Jesus to me. I acknowledge Him as my Savior. Be Lord of my life. Renew a right spirit within me. Reveal and etch your law and promises in my heart. Holy Spirit, teach me. In Jesus’ name!
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